The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1887-08-13
KANSAS CITY, WATKINS A
GULF RAILROAD.
Ats Projectors Have AMPLE
Capital 90 Hnsure Hts Con-
gtrmeGion.
Shreveport Times. Auguat4. 4.

/
Il may not be generally known, but Il IS a
tact, that the promoters Of the railroad from
Kansas City % Lake Charles are deeply con
| eeFned in nc future OF Louisiana. Their
/ interests consists IN actual Investments
| In Caleasieu, Vermilion, Lafayette and other
/ pariehes In this State, aggregating over one
| and half million aera pf land, Besides Mr.
/ =. b, WatEiaai the owner IN this State Of the
| largest farm n the world, there are $50 Eng-
lish capitalists Interested In these lands which
/ were purchased some years ago al very low
| figures. lie Is now the Intention Of the own
| eFs TO open all these lands for the settlement
OF worthy and desirable citizens from The
| great Northwest
II is afaet that Mr. Watktnsha contributed
more than any other man To the settloment
| Of Kansas where he Is the owner OF large
| tracts OF land He was once a poor boy, but
| like many other men he has been the archi-
| tect Of his own fortune, which Is estimated
~ millions OF dollars hIr. Watkins Is we'll
knowa throughout the money centers IN the
| United States and England, and Is recog-
nl4ed as q man Of sterling integrity and of
| indOmitable energy
What he has done for Kansas he proposes
20 do for Louisiana by inviting ind inducing
| home seekers to settle on the lands he aud
others oWn ip this State. Recognizing the
advantages Of railroads as powerful factors
IN developing and promoting tho resources
and prosperity Of d country, Mr., WatSins
desires TO construct O railroad from Kansas
City, one Of the greatest aud most important
distributing centeFs IN the Northwest To
Lake Charles, near the gulf, through terri
tory that abounds In rich lands aud valuable
timber,
In this projected enterprise Mr.. Watklus
y backed by English capital. The road Is to
be built on q sold basis not for speculative
scheme but for permanent Investment upon
Whlch reasonable percentage is expected
annually
The projectors Of this road foresee clearly
the brilliant future that awaits this State,
the most desirable and favored in tho Union
for It's genial climate and the fertility Of rs
lands. They foresee clearly that before many
years thousands of acres of land In this and
ln the parishes through which this road Is
Designed TO run, VIII be settled with thrifty
farmers who Will grow fruit, vegetable and
other product that WIN seek q market IN tho
Northwest The valuable timber, both oak
and long leaf pine end other woods will be In
great demand for building ana other pur-
posesln the Western and Northern states and
they think reasonably, that the wants of the
Western aud Northern people can be easily
supplied from the inexhaustible pineries and
forests OF Louisiana, There are other min
erals OF great value that win be developed m
the course Of time and which will also an-
hanee the general wealth Of the country,
The projectors OF this road propose to make
VIII Keep 1t free from Wall street aad other
stock-iobhing influences which have placed
roads In the hands of receivers and sheriffs,
Relying on the traffic OF the country, which
Is TO be secured at the very lowest rates, and
doing legitimate business IN transporting
the products Of the Western States, which
are always IN demand In Southern markets,
they feel confident that the road from Kan
sas City TO Lake Charles viii prove such an
Investment as Will secure for them fair re-
turn annually on their invested capital and
will At the same time increase She value Of
their lands 40 well as the lands and other
properties through which the road viii run
For several months past the projectors Of
this new road have had Experienced and
practical agents through the country for the
purpose OF investigation and observation
Their reports, II appears, have been favorable
and gratifying. In conversation q few days
since with one or their Representatives WHO
took great pains in Investigating tliis city and
the northern section OF this parish the Times
man was pleased 10 learn that the agent was
agfcegbly surprised and elated at the pros
Peets IN store for as which he remarked were
susceptible Of unlimited expansion He ex-
pressed the opinion that with proper spirit
and Efforts Shreveport and the country gen!
orally would In the near future experience
an era Of prosperity that would cause the
people 10 wonder il their ecstacy.
Our readers will admit eandidly that
Shreveport cannot alord 70 Htand stlll, but
must encourage the building Of an the rail-
roads that seek this market. Itmay be urged
that this city ID not yet free from the railroad
tax imposed tor the construction of the
Shreveport and Houston railway aud that the
people have obligated themselves Id honorto
vote Q lax In aid Of the Shreveport and Arkan-
sas now under construction. The people of
Shreveport haYe never failed TO respond lib
orally TO the appeals for railroad enterprises
and VIII give all the necessary encourage.
ment To the one now projected. For tic
new railroad the right Of way and terminal
facilities are asked, AS II VIII be direct
benefit To the parish and 10 Tic people of the
parish, Il occurs to US that o special parish
tax in aid Of the road would be il order Ia
another Issue Ok tho Times we Will endeavor
to present its Views on this imporfant quea-
tion